Arossim villagers confront Rly officials

VASCO: Tense situation prevailed at Arossim, Cansaulim after villagers confronted the railways authorities over the double tracking works.

The residents of Cansaulim, Arossim and surrounding areas were up in arms over renewed development works undertaken by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for double tracking works. 

The locals alleged that in the past the authorities had tried to destroy the centuries-old storm water drains especially the area opposite the historic St Lawrence Chapel, Arossim by digging up to lay cables for the railways. But once again the authorities were spotted at the site on Thursday afternoon which created tense moments after villagers confront the RVNL officials over double tracking plans and signal cabling work.

A press note issued by Goencho Ekvott (GE) stated that the RVNL with a strong police force drawn from the Railway Protection Force descended upon the village of Arossim. There has been simmering anger amongst the local inhabitants with the manner in which the work is going on without the permission of the local panchayat.

The Goencho Ekvott backing the villagers said that the railway contractor was executing underground cabling works through private, Comunidade and Fabrica properties. The contractor destroyed centuries-old storm water drains flowing towards water bodies on either side of the existing single railway track and erected concrete troughs to lay the armoured cables. 

The Goencho Ekvott members along with Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim Sarpanch and panchas rushed to the site and expressed their support to the villagers. 

Activist Olencio Simoes told the RVNL official that the villagers will not allow their land resources to be used to destroy the existence of inhabitants by the Railways. 

The Goenchao Ekvott members said that the RVNL Manager Ansar admitted that there were land use violations and assured the villagers that he will submit the proposal with adequate sketches. Also, as confidence building measures, the RVNL will immediately backfill all the illegal trenches dug by them, they claimed.